Refrigerator.



E. W. SHIRK.

REPRIGERATOR.

APPLIUATION FILED MAR. 7, 1913.

Patented Jan. 13, 1914.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

CoLUMBlA PLANOURAPH COWASHINGTDN, D. c.

E. W. SHIRK. REFRIGBRATOR. APPLICATION FILED MAR. 7, 1913.

I l ,084,366 Patented J an. 13, 1914.

2 SHEETSSHEET 2.

ELBERT WALKER SHIRK, OF PERU, INDIANA.

REFRIGERATOR.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Jan. 13, 1914.

Application led March 7, 1913. Serial No. 752,534.`

To all whom t may concern.'

Be it known that I, ELBnR'r WALKER Sunni, a citizen of the United States of America, and resident of Peru, Miami county, Indiana, have invented a certain new and useful Improvement in Refrigerators, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to refrigerators of that kind in which separate ice and food compartments are provided, the ice compartment being disposed above the foo-d compartment, and in which a white enamel or other vitreous lining is employed for the interior thereof.

The principal object of my invention is to provide a refrigerator of the foregoing general character' in which the said lining, although provided with a vitreous porcelain surface, is arranged to extend continuously from the top to the bottom of the interior of the refrigerator, and from one chamber to the other, the bottom of the ice compartment being supported on shoulders or other projections formed on the said vitreous p orcelain surface, and the general construction of the refrigerator being such that the removable parts do not require an accurate fitting together thereof, especially so where contact is made between parts having the said vitreous porcelain surface, whereby the use of the said vitreous porcelain lining is facilitated in the construction and inanufacture of the refrigerator, and whereby the extension of the vitreous porcelain lining from one chamber to the other, without any break in the continuity thereof, is rendered more possible and practical, both in the manufacture and the use of the refrigerator.

lt is also an object to provide certain details and features of improvement and combinations tending to increase the general etliciency and serviceability of a vitreous porcelain lined refrigerator of this particular character.

To the foregoing and other useful ends my invention consists in mat-ters hereinafter set forth and claimed. l

ln the accompanying drawings: Figure l is a vertical section of a refrigerator embodying the principles of my invention. Fig. 2 is a perspective of the removable bottom of the ice compartment, and one of the removable flue walls, the two elements being shown assembled in their proper relative positions. Fig. 3 is a detail vertical section of the flue walls shown in Fig. 2, showing adjacent parts of the refrigerator body in section. Fig. 4 is a view similar to Fig. 3, showing the flue wall construction at the other side of the refrigerator. Fig. 5 is a plan of the removable bottom of the ice compartment. Fig. 6 is an enlarged detail sectional view of the portion of the side wall of the refrigerator in which the trap is located for the drain. Fig. 7 is a detail vertical section of one side of the ice compartment, and of a portion of the bottom of the ice compartment, showing the manner in which the flue wall is held in place by a flange on the side of the bottom. Fig. S is a perspective of the lining of the ice compartment and food compartment, the said lining being of a unitary and continuous character, whereby it extends from one compartment to the other in the manner shown, without any break in the continuity thereofthat is to say, without any break at the points where it passes the edges of the bottom of the ice compartment. Fig. 9 is a perspective view of the trap shown in Fig. (i, and of the receptacle therefor.

As thus illustrated, the frame or body A of the refrigerator may be of any suitable, known or approved character. The ice conipartment B is disposed above the food or provision compartment C, as shown more clearly in Fig. l, in the usual manner. Both compartments are provided with a lining in the form of a sheet metal box D, such as that shown in Fig. 8, the said lining extending continuously from one compartment to the other, and comprising vertical side walls d, a vertical back wall (Z1, a bottom wall (Z2, and vertical front flanges (Z3 which are connected by a cross-bar dt, which latter divides the front of the lining into upper and lower openings, the upper opening being for the ice compartment, and the lower opening being for the food compartment. The said lining also has a top flange Z5 at the front thereof, and a lower upturned flange d, which flanges are all perforated, as shown, for the purpose of securing the lining to the frame of the refrigerator'. The four upper edges of the box-like lining D are provided with horizontal flanges ZT for use in attaching the lining in place to the top of the refrigerator and body structure. The sheet metal cross-bar d* is provided with a longitudinal crease or fold (ZS that forms a supporting shoulder for the front edge of the bottom E of the ice chamber. The back wall (Z1 of the lining is provided with a similar fold or deflection in the metal, which provides not only a shoulder Z9 for the rear edge of the said bottom, but also a hori- Zontal trough or gutter d10 which serves as a drain for the water that flows or drips from the rear edge of the said bottom. At one end of the said trough or gutter d10 a bent pipe F is inserted to carry olf the water. The entire inner surface of the boxlike lining l) is covered with a vitreous porcelain coating, in any suitable manner, which forms an impervious inner surface for the two chambers. The said bottom E is composed of a flat core of wood c, a bottom layer of sheet metal el, having a vitreous porcelain surface, and an upper layer of sheet metal@L that is also closed or covered with a vitreous porcelain surface. By referring to Figs. 2 and 7, it will be seen that the sheet metal facing e2 is providedwith upturned side edges forming flanges es, which flanges serve to pre-vent the water from escaping at the sides of the bottom, and cause the entire quantity of water, produced by the melting of the ice, to drain off in the direction of the lower edge of the bottom, and into the trough or gutter t 1 provided for this purpose. rl`he front edge portion et of the upper layer e2 of the bottom extends forward and rests upon the upper edge of the cross-bar (Zt, and upon a suitable portion of the body frame, as shown more clearly in Fig. l. rlhe lower and rear edge of the bottom E is preferably provided with knobs or projections e5 that bear against the back wall Z1 at points just above the trough or gutter d10, thus insuring space between the lining of the refrigerator and the rear edge of the said bottom, which space is necessary for the proper discharge of the water from the bottom into the said trough or gutter. The flue walls G and H are arranged at opposite sides of the ice chamber, and have their lower edges disposed immediat-ely inside of the flanges e3, in the manner shown more clearly in Fig. 7. Each flue wall is substantially pan-shaped in character, with the hollow side thereof turned outwardly, and the outer surfaces of these two walls are covered with a coating of vitreous porcelain, or with other equivalent enamel-like substance, similar to that used on the lining previously described. These flue walls are held in place by hooks g and /L inserted in the sides of the ice chamber, said hooks be` ing removably engaged by openings in the upper flanges of the flue walls, as shown more clearly in Figs. 3 and 4l. The flue wall G is provided with openings g1 near the lower edge thereof, for the circulation of the air, while the wall H is preferably plain or imperforate.

Referring t-o Figs. 6 and 9, it will be seen that the bent pipe F has its lower end inserted in one end of the trap f, which latter is in turn connected with the offtake pipe ft, whereby the water caused by the melting of the ice is carried off and discharged in any suitable manner. Preferably, however, this trap f is disposed between the side walls Z of the lining and the outer wall a of the refrigerator frame or body, as shown more clearly in Fig. 6, sufficient space between the two walls being provided for this purpose. The said trap is inclosed in a sheet metal box f1 which is set into the side wall of the refrigerator, with its open side facing outward, and which is provided with a cover f2 of any suitable character. Tius, and by removing this cover f2, the said trap is rendered easily accessible for the purpose of cleaning or repair. The said box f is preferably secured in place by means of flanges f3 formed around the edges thereof.

T he refrigerator may be of any suitable, known or approved form of construction, so far as the number of compartments and the arrangement thereof are concerned, and the location and arrangement of the doors. For example, and as shown in Fig. l, the refrigerator has a top I which has an inner lining or facing z' of sheet metal covered with a porcelain surface, like that of the lining already described. This cover fits downwardly within the top of the ice chamber, but the porcelain surfaces do not fit or bear upon each other, as the flange a" of the cover rests upon the upper edges al of the body of the refrigerator. The front of the refrigerator is provided with upper and lower doors J and K, which are similar in construction to the cover l, and which are allotted to the ice chamber and the food chamber respectively. The door .l has an inner lining or facing j, which, like that of the cover I, is panishaped in character, with its hollow side facing outward, and is surfaced with vitreous porcelain or other equivalent enamel-like substance. The door K has a similar pan-shaped lining or facing 7i", and both of these doors are so constructed, it will be seen, that the vitreous porcelain surfaces do not have a tight lit or contact Vit-h the lining of the body, or with other portions of the refrigerator.

From the foregoing it will be seen that l provide a refrigerator in which the ice chamber is provided with a vitreous porcelain lining, and in which this lining extends continuously into the food or provision chamber, in the manner described, and without any break in the continuity thereto at the points where the lining extends downwardly past the bottom of t-he ice chamber. Thus the entire inner surface of the body of the refrigerator is impervious to moisture, and is entirely sanitary, being extremely easy to clean and keep in good condition. rlhe construction, moreover, avoids the necessity of any tight fit or contact between the vitreous porcelain surfaces, the movable and removable parts, to the contrary, being all assembled in a practically loose and non-fitting manner, whereby accuracy of fit, which is practically impossible with vitreous enamel surfaces, is not necessary, and is entirely avoided. The removable bottom of the ice chamber is loosely supported on shoulders which are formed integrally on the walls of the box-like sheet metal lining of the refrigerator, and which lining is surfaced or faced with vitreous porcelain extending continuously and in an unbroken manner from top to bottom of the refrigerator-that is to say, from top to bottom of the sides and back of the ice chamber and food chamber, in the manner described. The vitreous porcelain coating or surface can be applied to the sheet metal lining in any desired manner, and in any way known to those skilled in the manufacture of porcelain or enamel coated goods in general.

1t will be understood, of course, that I do not limit myself to the exact construction shown and described, nor to the particular style of refrigerator shown and described. My invention, it will be understood, is applicable to the different types of refrigerators as well as the one shown and described. rllhe continuous lining for the ice and provision chambers can be employed in a refrigerator in which the said chambers have any suitable and well known relative arrangeir ent.

What claim as my invention is:

l. A refrigerator having an ice chamber, a food chamber below said ice chamber, the ice chamber having a bottom for supporting the ice, and a continuous lining for said chambers, extending from one to the other, providing a vitreous inner surface therefor, said lining being formed with projections for removably supporting said bottom, a frame, and means for supporting the lining in said frame adjacent said projections.

2. A refrigerator,v having an ice chamber, a food chamber below said ice chamber, the ice chamber having a bottom for supporting the ice, and a continuous lining for said chambers, extending from one to the other, providing a vitreous inner surface therefor, said lining being formed with a gutter extending across one vertical surface thereof, disposed below one edge of said. bottom to catch the drippings therefrom, and a drain opening in the lining at one end of said gutter.

3. A refrigerator having an ice chamber, a food chamber below said ice chamber, the ice chamber having a bottom for supporting the ice, and a continuous lining for said chambers, extending from one to the o-ther, providing a vitreous inner surface therefor, said bottom being tilted down at its rear edge, and said lining being formed with shoulders for supporting the front and rear edges of said bottom, the rear shoulder having a groove for carrying off the drippings from said bottom, the outer edge of said i groove engaging said bottom, and means providing' space between the rear edge of said bottom and the said lining.

el. A refrigerator having an ice chamber, a food chamber below said ice chamber, the ice chamber having a bottom for supporting the ice, and a continuous lining for said chambers, extending from one to the other, providing an impervious inner surface from top to bottom thereof, said lining being formed with projections for removably supporting said bottom, and means for backing and supporting said projections.

5. A refrigerator having an ice chamber, a food chamber below said ice chamber, the ice chamber having a bottom for supporting the ice, and a continuous lining fo-r said chambers, extending from one to the other, providing an impervious inner surface from top to bottom thereof, said lining being formed with a gutter extending across one vertical surface thereof, disposed below one edge of said bottom to catch the drippings therefrom, the outer edge of said gutter forming a support for said bottom.

G. A refrigerator having an ice chamber, a food chamber below said ice chamber, the ice chamber having a bottom for supporting the ice, and a continuous lining for said chambers, extending from one to the other, providing an impervious inner surface from top to bottom thereof, and said lining being formed with shoulders for supporting the front and rear edges of said bottom, the rear shoulder having a groove for carrying off the drippings from said bottom, and means for backing and supporting said shoulders.

7. A refrigerator having an ice chamber, a food chamber below said ice chamber, the ice chamber having a bottom for supporting the ice, and a continuous lining for said chambers, extending from one to the other, providing a vitreous inner surface therefor, said lining being formed with projections for removably supporting said bot-tom, together with flue walls for the said ice chamber, provided with vitreous surfaces, and means for spacing said walls a distance from the sides of said ice chamber.

8. A refrigerator having an ice chamber, a food chamber below said ice chamber, the ice chamber having a bottom for supporting the ice, a continuous lining for said chambers, extending from one to the other, providing a vitreous inner surface therefor, said lining being formed with a gutter extending across one vertical surface thereof, disposed below one edge of said bottom to support the same and catch the drippings therefrom, together with iiue walls for the said ice chamber, and means for spacing said walls a distance from the sides of said ice chamber, above said bottom and gutter.

9. A refrigerator having an ice chamber,

.E a rood chamber below said ice chamber, tne ice chamber having a bottom for support-ing the ice, and a continuous lining for said chambers, extending from one to the other, providing a vitreous inner surface therefor, said bottom being tilted down at its rear edge, and said lining being formed with shoulders for removably supporting the front and rear edges of said bottom, the rear shoulder having a groove for carrying off the drippings from said bottom, together with flue walls for the said ice chamber, and means for spacing said walls a distance from the sides of said ice chamber, above said bottom and gutter.

10. A refrigerator having an ice chamber, a food chamber below said ice chamber, the ice chamber having a bottom for supporting the ice, and a continuous lining for said chambers, extending from one to the other, providing an impervious inner surface from top to bottom thereof, said lining being formed with projections for removably supporti-ng` said bottom, together with flue walls for the sides of said ice chamber, means for removably suspending said walls a distance from the sides of the ice chamber, and means on said bottom for holding said walls against outward displacement at the lower edges thereof, serving also to keep the water from dripping at the side edges of said bottom.

11. A refrigerator having an ice chamber, a food chamber below said ice chamber, the ice chamber' having a bottom for supporting the ice, a gutter disposed below one edge of said bottom, to catch the drippings therefrom, together with flue walls for the sides of said ice chamber, means for removably7 suspending said walls a distance from the sides of the ice chamber, and means on said bottom for holding said walls against outward displacement at the lower edge thereof, serving also to keep the water from dripping at the side edges of said bottom, and to direct the water into said gutter.

12. A refrigerator having an ice chamber, a food chamber below said ice chamber, the ice chamber having` a bottom for supporting the ice, shoulders for removably supporting the front and rear edges of said bottom, the rear shoulder having a groove for carrying oif the d 1ippings from said bottom, together with flue walls for the sides of said ice chamber, means for removably suspending said walls a distance from the sides of the ice chamber, and means on said bottom for holding said walls against outward displacement at the lower edges thereof, serving also to keep the water from dripping at the side edges of said bottom, and to direct the water into said groove.

13. A refrigerator comprising an ice chamber, a bottom therefor, with space between t-he edges of said bottom and the surface of said chamber, at the sides thereof, flue walls for said chamber, each wall being pan-shaped with lthe hollow side thereof facing out, the upper flange of each wall being provided with holes, supports removably engaging said holes, fixed on the sides of said chamber, and flanges on said bottom, disposed outside the lower edges of said walls,

14. A refrigerator body frame having an ice chamber, a food chamber below said ice chamber, the ice chamber having a bottom for supporting the ice, and a lining for said chambers, extending continuously throughout both chambers, providing a vitreous inner surface therefor, together with means for fastening the said lining at intervals to said frames.

15. A refrigerator body frame having an ice chamber, a food chamber adjacent said ice chamber, the ice chamber having a bottom for support-ing the ice, and a continuous lining for said chambers, extending from one to the other, providing a vitreous inner surface therefor, together with means inserted through the lining at intervals to secure the same to said frame.

16. A refrigerator having an ice chamber, a food chamber adjacent said ice chamber, the ice chamber having a bottom for supporting the ice, and a continuous lining for said chambers, extending from one to the other, providing a vitreous inner surface therefor, said lining being formed with a gutter extending across one vertical surface thereof, disposed below one edge of said bottom to support the same and catch the dripings therefrom.

17. A refrigerator having an ice chamber, a food chamber adjacent said ice chamber, the ice chamber having a bottom for supporting` the ice, and a continuous lining for said chambers, extending from one to the other, providing a vitreous inner surface therefor, said bottom being tilted down at its rear edge, and said lining being formed with front and rear shoulders for supporting the front and rear edges of said bottom, the rear shoulder having a groove below the supporting edge thereof for carrying off the drippings from said bottom.

1S. A refrigerator having an ice chamber, a food chamber adjacent said ice chamber, the ice chamber having a bottom for supporting the ice, and a continuous lining for said chambers, extending from one to the other, providing an impervious inner surface from top to bottom thereof, said lining being formed with projections for removably supporting` said bottom, and

means for stiffening and supporting the lin ing adjacent said projections.

19. A refrigerator having an ice chamber, a food chamber adjacent said ice cham ber, the ice Chamber having a bottom for supporting the iee, and a. continuous lining for said chambers, extending from one to the other, providing an impervious inner surface from top to bottom thereof, said lining being formed with a gutter extending across one vertical surface thereof, disposed below one edge of said bottom to catch the drippings therefrom, Said bottom resting on the outer edge of the gutter, and means for spacing the edge of the bottom away from the lining above said gutter.

20. A refrigerator having an ice Chamber,

ETS

a food chamber adjacent said ice chamber, the ice chamber having a bottoni for Supporting the ice, and a continuous lining for u said chambers, extending from one to the other, providing an impervious inner surface from top to bottom thereof, and said lining being formed with front and rear shoulders for supporting the front and rear edges of said bottom, the rear shoulder having a groove for carrying o the drippings from said bottom, and a drain opening in the lining at one end of Said groove.

Signed by me this 27 th day of Feb., 1913.

ELBERT WALKER SHIRK. fitness/es:

L. Q. ROBERTSON, `W. S. POND.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner oi.' Patents, Washington, D. C. 

